CN104704147A - Electrolyser and energy system - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption. In one process of operating an electrolyser, a series of dispatches is received indicating a specified power consumption for a period of time. The dispatches may occur at least once every 30 minutes. The electrolyser is operated according to the dispatches. Hydrogen produced by the electrolyser is discharged to a natural gas system.

Description

Electrolyzer and energy system

Related application

According to 35USC119, this application claims the right of priority of No. 61/652,263, the U.S. Provisional Application submitted on May 28th, 2012.By way of reference by U.S. Provisional Application 61/652, No. 263 are incorporated to.

Technical field

This specification sheets relates to the electrolyzer in energy system and operates the method for electrolyzer, such as, for generation of the hydrogen being used as stored energy or fuel, or provides grid service.

Background technology

The European patent EP 1177154B1 be herein incorporated by way of reference describes a kind of energy distribution network, and it is for providing a certain amount of hydrogen needed for user from electrolyzer.This network comprises electric energy, electrolyzer and controller.Controller receives and processing controls input, and this control inputs comprises the data relevant with the demand of user to hydrogen.Controller is connected with electrolyzer, and controls the generation of the hydrogen undertaken by electrolyzer based on control inputs at least to a certain extent.

The Canadian Patent CA2511632C be herein incorporated by way of reference describes the energy networks by grid interconnect with multiple power house and multiple load.Load can comprise electrolyzer.Network has the controller be connected with load with power house.Controller can be operated to change from the available power in power house or adjustment from the demand of electrolyzer, thus provides the expectation of supply and demand to mate.Hydrogen can be produced as the transport fuel with the emission performance specifically can verified.

Summary of the invention

Below discuss and be intended to introduce ensuing detailed description to reader, and be not be intended to restriction or limit any claimed invention.

Electrolyzer works such as to provide grid service, stored energy or fuel in energy system, or utilizes the electric power produced from renewable resources to produce hydrogen.Electrolyzer can work with frequent or fast-changing power consumption speed, or can with the power consumption work of specifying.

In some cases, a kind of method has following steps: provide electrolyzer, and receives a series of scheduling, and this scheduling shows the power consumption of specifying in for some time.This scheduling at least occurs once for every 30 minutes.According to scheduling operation electrolyzer.The hydrogen that electrolyzer is produced during operation is discharged in natural gas system.

In some cases, a kind of energy system has electrical network, electrolyzer and natural gas system.Electrolyzer is used for providing grid service and is discharged in natural gas system by hydrogen.

In some cases, a kind of method has following steps: provide electrolyzer, according to the dispatch command from power grid operation person or operate electrolyzer according to grid service contract, and is discharged in natural gas line by the hydrogen produced when operating like this.

In some cases, a kind of method for storing electric energy excessive in electrical network has following steps: excessive energy transformation is become hydrogen and is injected in natural gas system by hydrogen.

In some cases, carry out the method for the virtual transmission of electric power, it comprises the following steps: that electrolyzer power consumption by operating in the first location in electrical network is to produce hydrogen, in first location, hydrogen is injected into natural gas system, Sweet natural gas is taken out from natural gas system in the second position, the electric power of production to produce electric power, and is fed to the second position in electrical network by gas-firing.

In some cases, a kind of method of commercially carrying out the invented sale of hydrogen, it comprises the following steps: to produce hydrogen by electrolyzer power consumption, hydrogen is injected in natural gas system, measure the amount of the hydrogen be injected in natural gas system, measure the amount of the Sweet natural gas that user fetches from natural gas system, and open bill for the amount of hydrogen consumption to user, the amount of hydrogen consumption is at least equivalent to a part for the amount of the Sweet natural gas fetched.Alternatively, electric power can comprise the actual electric power originating from or be considered as to have originated from renewable energy source.

In some cases, a kind of electrolyzer has multiple tinkertoy module, and each tinkertoy module has independently power supply.Alternatively, electrolyzer has the controller for operating multiple tinkertoy module with different rate of power consumption simultaneously.

In some cases, a kind of electrolyzer has the multiple tinkertoy modules upwards leading to the gas separator shared.

In some cases, a kind of electrolyzer has controller and electric gauger.Controller is suitable for operation direct supply with predetermined speed power consumption.Alternatively, controller can operate direct supply, makes when electric power is available below predetermined price with predetermined speed power consumption.

In some cases, a kind of method operating electrical network, it comprises the following steps: to input uneven energy, and the electrolyzer unbalanced depletion energy by being connected with natural gas system.

In some cases, a kind of method operating electrical network, it comprises the following steps: operate generator to produce the electric power of the amount exceeded needed for operation electrical network, and consumes excessive described electric power in the electrolyzer be connected with natural gas system.Other steps can also be there are, the marginal cost of excessive described electric power is deducted the difference of any cost of not producing excessive electric power and the marketable value of hydrogen compares.

In some cases, a kind of method comprises the following steps:, during the first period, to carry out power consumption, and be injected in natural gas system by hydrogen by electrolyzer, and during the second period, gas-firing is to produce electric power.

In some cases, a kind of natural gas system has the user's gasometer comprising hydrogen concentration sensor.The data relevant with flow rate and hydrogen concentration are converted into the equivalent flow rate of Sweet natural gas.

In some cases, a kind of method operating gas fuel station or natural gas power plant, it comprises the following steps: the concentration measuring hydrogen from the Sweet natural gas that pipeline is fetched, and adds hydrogen to produce the gaseous mixture with the hydrogen concentration of specifying.

In some cases, a kind of method operating gas fuel station or natural gas power plant, it comprises the following steps: the mixture concentrating hydrogen and the Sweet natural gas fetched from pipeline, and adds Sweet natural gas to produce the gaseous mixture with the hydrogen concentration of specifying.

In some cases, a kind of method operating electrolyzer, it comprises the following steps: to receive the data relevant with the maximum hydrogen that can be injected in gas tube, and a) control electrolyzer, make it consume to be no more than the electricity of production maximum hydrogen, b) discharge excessive hydrogen, or c) send signal to power grid operation person, signal shows can by the corresponding maximum hydrogen produced.Data comprise the flow rate of the Sweet natural gas in pipeline.

The element illustrated in above-mentioned situation and step can be applied in the combination described in various situation, have can other situations or below detailed description in any element of finding or step above-mentioned situation in the combination of any one in or in other combinations.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of the energy system comprising electrolyzer.

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of a part for the energy system of the Fig. 1 of the connection comprised between electrolyzer and gas tube.

Fig. 3 is the schematic diagram of the various electric components of the electrolyzer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram of the liquid air circuit of the electrolyzer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is the schematic diagram of the optional hydrogen-rich gas extraction system of the energy system of Fig. 1.

Embodiment

Water electrolysis is referred to as electrolysis in this manual, and it converts electric energy to the chemical energy of the form of hydrogen.When hydrogen Maximum Value with pure fuel substantially or industrial chemical and when being consumed.But when with other gas and vapor permeation, hydrogen also has value, and this value reduces along with hydrogen concentration haply.Also hydrogen can be converted back electric power.In addition, in some cases, the ability of electrolyzer consumed power can provide valuable service, such as, helps balance or regulates interconnective transmission system (being also referred to as electrical network).Hydrogen can be considered to fuel or industrial chemical, but also can be considered stored energy or transportation media.Electrolyzer can be considered to the equipment for the production of hydrogen, and also can be considered the equipment for providing grid service.

Grid service also can be referred to as assistant service or deposit, and it comprises the various services helping the reliability service maintaining electrical network.Network system network operator is referred to as independent system network operator (ISO), power system network operator (ESO) or transmission system network operator (TSO) sometimes, and it can provide different types of grid service contract.Grid service comprises auxiliary electrical network network operator and manages control area, or can be used for the operation reducing or promote the energy trasfer between control area.Here be interestedly especially, for the total production on balance electrical network and the object of consumption, the owner of some grid service contractual requirement variable loads makes response to the dispatch command made by network system network operator, such as in order to avoid or revise the imbalance of short-term.Generator and controllable burden are all considered to the assets of electrical network, and it can provide grid service potentially.In electrical network, often most important load is industrial treatment.But the operational efficiency of industrial treatment when steady state is the highest, so, only have some industrial treatment can be used to provide grid service, and the potential value of its grid service is normally little.

In order to provide grid service, need process at least to run with the power consumption of variable bit rate.In the case where there, the potential value of the grid service provided by variable load increases, these situations are: a) when the speed of the potential change of power consumption, frequency or size increase, b) when process can run with the assigned rate of power consumption exactly, or c) when process can be controlled by power grid operation person.

The speed of change of power consumption, frequency or size are relevant to the value of grid service, produce this is because few load or assets of generating electricity can change it soon, continually or in large quantities or consume.To a greater extent, the renewable energy power generation assets of such as solar panel or wind turbine and so on frequently and promptly fluctuate than conventional electric power generation assets.Therefore, will in high level renewable energy power generation a pool of assets to electrical network, need the ability frequently changing other assets rapidly correspondingly to improve, and bring up to corresponding degree.

The ability accurately run with the assigned rate of power consumption is very valuable, this is because can help to provide rapider and simple uneven solution in accordance with the inaccurate assets of duty ratio of dispatch command exactly.Based in the system in market, the cost of reduction may be only applicable to the power consumption of specifying.

Power grid operation person tightens control the scope by increasing the problem solved by controllable burden.Such as, can be cut off the power supply of conventional interruptible load, to prevent voltage drop in emergency circumstances electrical network below bottom line, but next power grid operation person can not accurately control when will recover load.If the time length of load rejection is also controlled, and if load also can be used for the superpotential prevented in electrical network, this will be more valuable concerning power grid operation person.If the scheduling of power grid operation person is mandatory substantially or is almost always followed, but not through the acceptance of asset owner, so value will be had more.In working control, power grid operation person can transmit control signal to load governor, but not sends dispatch command to load network operator, this provides larger value.In type variable controls, power grid operation person can send the control signal that instruction or transmission specify the expected rate of power consumption, and this is than being only that the ability of closing load completely provides higher value.

If process can provide more than one above-mentioned advantages, so this process is exactly useful, but wherein many being all difficult to provides.About the speed of change of power consumption, frequency and size, most of industrial treatment all sticks to the ability that change that more than the one among to the mechanical part used in narrow efficient process operation, this process and the needs producing product asks is made a response.When mechanical part off-duty in case of a steady state, their can frequently wear and tear or fault.Produce the speed possibility demand fulfillment physics of product or the constraint in market.About the ability run with the assigned rate of power consumption, most of industrial treatment is controlled by given production speed instead of is controlled by appointment power consumption.About the control of power grid operation person, which hinders industry regulator optimizes its process ability according to other constraints.

In order to increase the potential providing grid service, electrolyzer is preferably configured to have more than one ability, runs, runs with the assigned rate of power consumption, and allow to be controlled by power grid operation person with speed that is frequent, that change fast or extensively or power consumption.

When the electrical network do not controlled to common large-scale operation power department provides service, the one among these attributes or a few person are also useful.Such as, in order to from production of renewable energy resources hydrogen, electrolyzer directly can be connected with generator, or be connected in micro-capacitance sensor.Generator can comprise such as wind turbine, solar panel, heat solar equipment or biogas combustion generator.This directly or in the buffering system of minimum level, the needs of power storage can be lowered to the degree that electrolyzer can be run by producing in real time with the power of any amount.

In another example, electrolyzer can be connected with electrical network, this achieves the direct contract between capacity generator or load or provides from the dispatch command of power grid operation person or the auction of service request or other market.In these cases, the low electricity price of agreement can be only applicable to the number of the energy of time and the purchase of specifying.Any contradiction between reality and designated time or electric power consumption may cause electrolyzer network operator to increase payment.Because contract may, with in time and stepping speed and specify that electric power is bought, if so electrolyzer can follow the step of specifying exactly, so can make power cost minimize.This needs the rapid change between the wear rate of accurately specifying.In addition, buy in the system being verified or confirming as and come from renewable or freezer compartment gas generation source at energy, advocate that line of credit, counteracting or other interests may need the high-caliber correspondence related between the data of production of renewable energy resources or purchase and the data of the actual electric power used of record.

Substantially pure hydrogen or be at least that the appearance of strong market of high concentration of hydrogen may need balanced production to limit and the value providing grid service.On the other hand, meet market to the demand of pure hydrogen or high concentration of hydrogen or accidentally may will meet when providing grid service time, provide grid service may have more value than providing the hydrogen of more any specified amount to produce.Electrolyzer is connected with natural gas system and provides market, and can accept substantially at any time can the physical store of hydrogen of fertile any amount and haulage system by electrolyzer.So electrolyzer can be controlled to provide grid service most valuable in essence, and need not be concerned about the opportunity that hydrogen is produced or amount.

Ensuingly further illustrate the energy system describing and there is electrical network, electrolyzer and natural gas system.The hydrogen produced by electrolyzer can be used to the market of more high value, but hydrogen also can be injected in natural gas system.The design of electrolyzer is to provide the mode convenient operation of grid service.System is convenient to extract from the hydrogen be injected into natural gas system be worth.

Fig. 1 illustrates the energy system 10 with electrolyzer 12.In control area 16, electrolyzer 12 is connected with electrical network 14.Electrical network 14 is connected to other power grid control region further via exchange transmission line 18.In control area 16, electrical network 14 is made up of the internal transmission line 20 of differing capacities.The part in control area 16 exchanging transmission line 18 is also considered to internal transmission line 20.

Transmission line 20 is connected with generator 22 and load 24.Electrolyzer 12 is also load 24.Electrical production in the responsible maintenance control area 16 of power grid operation person 26 and the balance of consumption, and if necessity, be responsible for arranging, via exchange transmission line 18, electricity is outputted to other control areas, or input from other control areas electric.The communication that power grid operation person 26 may carry out in various degree via one or more communication link 28 and more than one generator 22 and load 24.Power grid operation person can control at least some generator 22 and load 24 in varying degrees.Controlled generator 22 and load 24 can be referred to as assets.

Communication link 28 such as can allow power grid operation, and person 26 passes on dispatch command, and receives and show that controlled assets 22 and the 24 pairs of dispatch commands accept, refuse or the message of acceptance through change.Alternatively, communication link 28 directly can pass on electronic signal by machinable form to assets 22 and 24.Further alternatively, communication link 28 can be powered from appointment generator 22 or electrical network 14 to specify cost, price or time according to the attribute of the market supplies such as such as dispatch command, service request or quotation usually indirectly.Assets 22 and 24 may need to be bid or contract engagement to instruction, request or electric power by the intermediary of such as middleman or Automated Auction system and so on, and may receive the confirmation of its obligation.

Outside the control of other generator 22 or load 24 can operate in power grid operation substantially person 26.Not controlled generator 22 or load 24 are connected to electrical network via gauger usually, production or the consumption of gauger makes power grid operation person 26 at least knows the generator 22 and load 24 connected via this gauger.

Alternatively, electrical network 14 can take other forms.Such as, in remote community area, electrical network 14 can be comprised in in other electrical networks 14 or control area 16 each other unconnected control area 16.In a part for exclusive or privately owned power system or power system, electrolyzer 12 almost more directly can be connected with generator 22 via transmission line 20.In both cases, the function of power grid operation person 26 can be simplified to the degree making these functions substantially reach automatization.Power grid operation person 26 can be programmable logic controller, computer or other programmable device, instead of employs personnel and use office or the company of programmable device.

In addition alternatively, load aggregation device ALARA Principle at least comprises some aspects of the operation of multiple loads 24 of electrolyzer 12, and can provide grid service based on the ability of the merging of multiple load.The multiple electrolyzer 12 of this condensing funnel ALARA Principle or more than one electrolyzer 12 mix with more than one other loads 24.In this case, although load aggregation device can be private company independent of power grid operation person 26 or other entities, load aggregation device can be regarded as a power grid operation person 26 and electrolyzer network operator's part.

Except other aspects, in power grid operation person 26 balancing control region 16, the production of electric power and consumption, make the voltage substantial equalization in electrical network 14.In addition, the electricity that each transmission line 18 and 20 carries must below the maximum capacity of each transmission line 18 and 20.In FIG, power grid operation person 26 is in charge of and consumes and the balance of producing and Transmission Constraints.Alternatively, can by more than one other network operators coordinated with power grid operation person 26 to control Transmission Constraints.In this case, these other the network operator person's 26 that can be regarded as a power grid operation part.Power grid operation person 26 can use electrolyzer 12 help balance as controllable burden or regulate electrical network or management Transmission Constraints.Such as, in a region of electrical network 14, the electric power of excessive production can be consumed in electrolyzer 12, to prevent the superpotential in electrical network 14, and/or prevents the electric current flowing through transmission line 18 and 20 from exceeding its capacity.

Power grid operation person 26 also can via uneven market or setter arrangement by power transmission to other control area 16 or from other control area 16 transferring electric power.Power grid operation person 26 attempts to avoid this transmission usually.This is because, when power grid operation person 26 needs input electric power uneven electric energy just expensive when.Power grid operation person 26 is that low electricity price is even when negative electricity valency when must exporting energy.

Power grid operation person 26 can use electrolyzer 12 to absorb electric energy, otherwise these electric energy need to be output, or is bought by another control area with negative electricity valency.Power grid operation person 26 also can keep being difficult to reduce the generator 22 produced or reduce comparision of production waste, to such an extent as to makes the electric power that electrolyzer 12 consumption is produced.This application of electrolyzer 12 is realized by the dispatch command of power grid operation person 26 or the mode of market supply.

Energy system 10 comprises natural gas system 30.Electrolyzer 12 is connected with natural gas system 30 via row's hydrogen mouth 32.Natural gas system 30 comprises the pipeline 34 of differing capacities Sweet natural gas being transported to gas consumption person 40 from natural gas supply source 42.Natural gas system 30 can also be included in more than one gas storage 36 of pipeline 34 outside for natural gas-storing.Alternatively, row's hydrogen mouth 32 is connected with hydrogen pipeline 38, and hydrogen can be transported to gas consumption person 40 without natural gas system 30 by hydrogen pipeline 38.For simplifying for the purpose of accompanying drawing, the natural gas system 30 shown in Fig. 1 is what to separate with control area 16.On the ground, natural gas system 30 may be overlapping with control area 16.Specifically, gas consumption person 40 also can be load 24 in control area 16 or generator 22.

At least at some time, electrolyzer 12 receives electric power from transmission line 20 and produces hydrogen.The hydrogen of part or all can be injected into natural gas line 34 from row's hydrogen mouth 32.By this way, by electric energy conversion being become hydrogen and being stored in by hydrogen in natural gas system 30, electrolyzer 12 stores the energy in energy system 10.In some cases, the gas consumption person 40 as natural gas generator 22 passes through finally again to convert hydrogen burning to electric power.In a part for control area 16, convert electric power to hydrogen by electrolyzer 12, and the another part in control area 16, generate corresponding electric power from natural gas generator 22, said process provides the virtual transmission of the electric power by natural gas system 30.

No matter when or actual whether hydrogen arrives natural gas generator 22, and hydrogen instead of gas consumption, and reduces the needs inputting Sweet natural gas in natural gas system 30.In management, clearing, tracking, tax revenue, carbon compensation, carbon credit or other system or process, hydrogen can be considered at any time be burnt by any gas consumption person 40.

Fig. 2 illustrates other details of the part of energy system 10, the connection particularly between electrolyzer 12 and natural gas system 30.Shown electrolyzer 12 comprises core 50, temporary storage 52 and compressor 54.Temporary storage 52 and compressor 54 are preferred, but can be able to be injected in natural gas system 30 to make hydrogen with sufficiently high Output pressure hydrogen due to some electrolyzers 12, and therefore temporary storage 52 and compressor 54 are also optional.But under the condition of variable power consumption, the direct connection between core 50 with natural gas line 34 may cause lasting high pressure or pressure surge in electrolyzer is stacked.Both of these case adds the possibility and quantity that hydrogen reveals, but above-mentioned situation can be arranged compressor 54 and avoided by the hydrogen produced lower than line pressure.

The division of the parts between remaining part of the core 50 shown in Fig. 2, electrolyzer 12 and the region of electrolyzer 12 outside is random.Such as, temporary storage 52 and compressor 54 can be integrated in the utility appliance in core 50.Alternatively, temporary storage 52 and compressor 54 can be positioned at outside the buildings of accommodation electrolyzer 12, or even remote place.

In fig. 2, electrolyzer core 50 produces the hydrogen lower than the pressure in the natural gas line 34 of natural gas system 30.Such as, core 50 may produce the hydrogen of about 100psig.If be provided with temporary storage 52, so it is mainly used in the hydrogen of production to gather together, and compressor 54 is not needed continually or runs with the speed matched with the speed of hydrogen output, and for providing the buffering preventing core 50 from producing suction.Compressor 54 can be such as positive piston pump.Store pressure warning unit 66 to be communicated with temporary storage 52 fluid, and monitor the pressure in temporary storage.When pressure warning unit 66 shows to arrive high pressure set point, compressor 54 starts.When pressure warning unit 66 shows to arrive low pressure set point, compressor 54 cuts out.The recirculation loop 70 that can add with variable valve 68 exceedes predetermined maximum value to prevent compressor delivery pressure.

Row's hydrogen mouth 32 is connected to gas tube 34 via delivery valve 56 and gasometer 58.Delivery valve 56 can be such as back pressure regulator, and it is only just opened when the pressure of hydrogen exceedes minimum pressure, and this minimum pressure is selected as being greater than peak pressure possible in natural gas line 34, such as, be 500 ~ 800psig.Alternatively, delivery valve 56 can detect the true pressure in natural gas line 34 with electronics or pneumatic mode, and minimum pressure is adjusted to the pressure of following in natural gas line 34 and adds safety coefficient.This can be avoided supercompression hydrogen and consumed energy.Gasometer 58 records the hydrogen flowing into gas tube, for more than one charging or management etc.Alternatively, there is two or more gasometer 58, one of them is had by the network operator of electrolyzer 12 and uses, and another is had by the network operator of natural gas system 30 and uses.Alternatively, these network operators can be a companys, or network operators can share the data from pure gas gauger 58.Can often by manually reading gasometer 58, but gasometer 58 preferably can transmit data, usually transmits data with the polling interval of routine.

Electrolyzer core 50 comprises water-hydrogen separator and gas flow dryer.Humidity sensor in electrolyzer 12 checks whether hydrogen had been reduced to the standard of gas tube before leaving electrolyzer 12.By checking, oxygen sensor guarantees that the oxygen level of hydrogen is no more than the safety standards of electrolyzer or the standard of gas tube.Comprise these internal sensors, natural gas system network operator may need its oneself oxygen sensor and humidity sensor near the entrance of gas tube 34.Alternatively, additive can be added to hydrogen, such as, add the compatibility of the material that anti-labilizer uses with the material or gas consumption person 40 that improve hydrogen and natural gas system 30.

Electrolyzer 12 has more than one controller 60 of execution more than one control treatment.In a control treatment, controller 60 determines that hydrogen injects the maximum rate relative to the time, and prevents electrolyzer 12 to exceed the speed hydrogen injecting of maximum rate.Maximum rate can be determined by the preliminary election maximum hydrogen concentration (such as volume is 2% ~ 20%) of all parts being applicable to natural gas system.In this case, maximum hydrogen concentration can not exceed the maximum hydrogen concentration in the natural gas line 34 receiving hydrogen.Therefore at any time, the speed that hydrogen injects all can not exceed the largest percentage of this natural gas line 34 Sweet natural gas flow rate at that time.In order to verify this condition, controller 60 receives the signal A from the natural gas line under meter 62 be connected with the pipeline 34 and signal B from gasometer 58.Suppose the producer that there is not upstream electrolyzer 12 or hydrogen, the flow rate that the flow rate that signal B shows by controller 60 and signal A show is compared with the product of largest percentage.

Also can use and determine maximum hydrogen rate of injection or whether exceeded maybe to exceed maximum other modes multiple of allowing hydrogen concentration.Such as, if there is the upstream hydrogen producer, so the hydrogen sensor of controller 60 with row hydrogen mouth 32 upstream can be connected, and the hydrogen concentration in the gas tube 34 of the row's of further considering hydrogen mouth 32 upstream.Alternatively, the hydrogen sensor of controller 60 with row hydrogen mouth 32 downstream can be connected directly to check whether hydrogen concentration exceedes maximum hydrogen concentration.In other alternatives, the information that controller 60 or electrolyzer network operator can obtain the entity from management natural gas system 30 responds, this information shows the Sweet natural gas flow rate in gas tube 34, shows whether natural gas system 30 can accept more hydrogen after direct or further calculating.When obtaining information from the entity of management natural gas system 30, this entity can determine the maximum rate of injection that the single largest hydrogen concentration of all parts not being applied to natural gas system 30 is limit.In this case, maximum rate of injection can consider the dilution in gas tube 34 downstream such as caused by the inflow of gas storage 36 or Sweet natural gas.Alternatively, hydrogen can be delivered directly to gas storage 36 by hydrogen pipeline 38, in this case, whether allows to inject more hydrogen and whether can exceed selected peak concentration by the hydrogen concentration in gas storage 36 and decide.

Controller 60 compares the hydrogen throughput rate indicated by gasometer 58 or internal gas gauger and maximum rate of injection continuously or with polling interval.As long as hydrogen throughput rate remains on below maximum rate of injection, so throughput rate just can be decided by other factors.But if hydrogen throughput rate exceedes maximum rate of injection, so controller 60 can send alarm to network operator, or the mode such as by sending signal to the direct supply in electrolyzer 12 directly reduces the power consumption of electrolyzer 12.Alternatively, controller 60 or electrolyzer network operator also can will show signal that electrolyzer 12 is reducing its power consumption person 26 that sends to power grid operation.

Electrolyzer 12 preferably seldom exceedes maximum hydrogen rate of injection relative to the size of the usual flow rate in gas tube 34.Alternatively, hydrogen pipeline 38 can be used for by electrolyzer 12 with far but larger gas tube 34 be connected, or it to be directly connected with gas storage 36.Any interim gas storage 52 can be used to allow some hydrogen to produce several times with the speed exceeding maximum rate of injection.But sometimes, controller 60 still may need the net rate reducing hydrogen production several times.By the actual speed rate of reduction hydrogen production or by some hydrogen produced are discharged into the net rate that air reduces hydrogen production.Although discharge hydrogen is not desired, hydrogen and discharge or oxygen in air be combined again thus form water, material injury is not had to environment.

The actual speed rate reducing hydrogen production needs the speed reducing power consumption usually.Although reduce power consumption often can be accepted, electrolyzer 12 consumes predetermined electricity according to contract or dispatch command in some cases, or electrolyzer 12 can perform grid service.In these cases, the reduction of planless power consumption may damage electrical network 14, or causes economic damage to power grid operation person 26 or electrolyzer network operator.In such cases, electrolyzer network operator may more be ready to discharge hydrogen.

In order to avoid the reduction of planless power consumption or hydrogen discharge, controller 60, electrolyzer network operator, other personnel or thing can be predicted the maximum rate of injection estimated one period of existence.This prediction can based on the more than one current rate in gas tube 34, current trend by the flow rate of gas tube 34, historical data or the information being received from natural gas system network operator.When power grid operation person 26 controls completely or to a certain extent electrolyzer 12, this prediction can be converted into Effective power consumption and the person 26 that is provided to power grid operation.Alternatively, electrolyzer network operator or controller 60 can based on the grid service of this prediction refusal or amendment dispatch command or the request person 26 that comes from power grid operation.In other cases, electrolyzer network operator can bid to energy contract based on this prediction.If safety factors can be applied to this prediction prediction error and accept the possibility of hydrogen discharge or even will cause the power consumption scheduling or contract that need to discharge hydrogen in accordance with being predicted to be by electrolyzer network operator.

The amount of gasometer 58 to the hydrogen joining pipeline 34 carries out record.In the sale of actual hydrogen, the network operator of natural gas system 30 can based on the reading of gauger 58 according to contract or specify that determined price is paid to the hydrogen of electrolyzer network operator.Just Sweet natural gas is regarded as after hydrogen and Sweet natural gas mix.Alternatively, the consumer gasometer 64 between pipeline 34 and consumer 40 can comprise hydrogen concentration sensor.In order to the object of settling accounts, the gauger 64 or flow rate of the not hydrogeneous Sweet natural gas with equivalent heat value is provided by the computer of natural gas system operator adjustable real gas flow rate.Alternatively, natural gas system network operator can provide adjustment based on one group of consumer 40 of the reduction estimated flowing through the gas heating value of gauger 64 caused by the hydrogen be injected in pipeline 34 to electrolyzer 12 downstream.

The flow rate and hydrogen concentration information that calculate or measure can be used, by calculating the amount of the hydrogen of user's actual consumption, actual hydrogen being carried out to gas consumption person 40 and sells.Also via hydrogen pipeline 38 or in the mode of tank car, hydrogen can be sold to consumer 40.

Alternatively, the invented sale of hydrogen can be carried out to consumer 40.The amount of the gas that different consumer 40 fetches is recorded by user's gasometer 64.The summation being less than or equal to the some or all of gas of the amount of the hydrogen produced recorded by gasometer 58 consumed by each consumer 40 is considered to hydrogen.For imputed hydrogen, consumer 40 pays to electrolyzer network operator or natural gas system network operator.In section preset time, hydrogen output and the consumption thought may balance, also may be uneven.If turnout is different from imputed consumption, so then think that hydrogen is stored or is removed from natural gas system 30 within that time.

Alternatively, the retail trader of hydrogen may sign with electrolyzer network operator and purchase hydrogen contract, and hydrogen is sold to consumer 40.Hydrogen retail trader to pay purchase to electrolyzer network operator, and hydrogen retail trader bought deducts from the flow recorded via gasometer 58.Any remaining hydrogen can be sold to natural gas system network operator or other user.The some or all of gas indicated for gauger 64 uses, and consumer 40 pays to hydrogen retail trader.The expense of any remaining gas that consumer 40 uses will be paid natural gas system network operator.

In any these processes, also can by reimbursement of expense to natural gas system network operator, to transmit or to store hydrogen.Hydrogen can be hydrogen by clearing, or is settled accounts as equivalent according to the calorific value of Sweet natural gas.

Hydrogen can be considered as being produced or based on be used for the electric power producing hydrogen source and be labeled attribute.Such as, electrolyzer 12 can only be connected with wind energy turbine set, solar power-generating facility or other specific generators 22, and is not connected with electrical network 14.When more likely, electrolyzer 12 can be connected with the transmission line 20 between generator 22 and the remainder of electrical network 14.Suppose not exist from electrical network 14 to the flow of the electricity of transmission line 20 or net discharge of canal, hydrogen can be marked as and be produced by specific generator 22.Even if there is the flow or the net discharge of canal that come from the electric current of electrical network 14, based on its generated energy, a part of hydrogen can be marked as and be produced by specific generator 22.When electric power contract sold in market and contract specifies generator 22, the hydrogen of respective amount can be marked as by appointment generator 22 produce.

When considering mark, the hydrogen marked can be sold according to true or virtual mode.Such as, consumer 40 can agree to pay higher price to being marked as the hydrogen utilizing the renewable energy sources such as such as wind energy, sun power, biogas or synthetic gas to produce by generator 22.Alternatively, economy or the supervision attribute of carbon credit volume or compensation, tax credit or other renewable energy source may be relevant with the hydrogen marked.To mark the production of hydrogen and use relevant data to be collected in a computer, and for calculating the bill of sale marking hydrogen, or transfer record that is economic for the formation of other or supervision attribute.When relating to hydrogen retail trader, retail trader only can carry out virtual purchase to marking hydrogen.Marked hydrogen attribute and be transferred to retail trader, then, retail trader can by these attribute transfer to user.By this way, retail trader only can carry out invented sale to the hydrogen produced by renewable resources.This invented sale can be met by actual delivery Sweet natural gas, although the hydrogen of reality replaces Sweet natural gas elsewhere and used.Alternatively, retail trader can allow user to advocate that carbon credit volume, tax credit, carbon compensate or other rights and interests according to the hydrogen of mark purchased.

Electrolyzer 12 is preferably connected with heavy body transmission line 20.Particularly, electrolyzer 12 can be connected or in its vicinity with exchange transmission line 18.Owing to exchanging transmission line 18 to be established, so be configured to by electrical network 14 excessive electric power to be transported to these circuits 18 to other control areas by power sale by uneven market.The electrolyzer 12 be positioned near switched line 18 is in the position being appropriate to consume excessive power, otherwise these excessive power need to be sold with negative definite valency in uneven market usually.This electrolyzer 12 also can be placed as and allows power grid operation person 26 to buy when not making internal transmission line 20 transship or allow to buy the uneven energy come through switched line 18.

When Gas Prices do not make electric power to convert to Sweet natural gas become profit time, the operation of electrolyzer 12 is mainly used to provide grid service.In this mode, hydrogen is produced as providing the byproduct of grid service and is sold, but does not produce hydrogen at other times.Unless be scheduled, or very low in the speed of some special time period supply of electric power, otherwise electrolyzer cuts out.Electrolyzer 12 can run according to the needs of contract according to power grid operation person 26, or under the direct control of the person 26 that is placed in power grid operation.When providing the grid service of the time scale with more than five minutes, power grid operation person 26 can be communicated by the mode of dispatch command or confirmation message with electrolyzer network operator.Dispatch command can be sent by phone, e-mail or exclusive data link, and specifies more than one wear rate expected in more than one future time section.Confirmation message is delivered with identical or other the communication of form, its show electrolyzer 12 can and power consumption will be carried out specified by dispatch command, or show that electrolyzer 12 can observe a part of dispatch command.Within the time period of dispatch command, the information from gauger 84 (see Fig. 3) that have recorded the actual consumption of electrolyzer 12 is also sent to power grid operation person 26.

When electrolyzer 12 provide such as frequency adjustment and so on there is the grid service of shorter time scale time, between power grid operation person 26 and the controller 60 of electrolyzer, instruction and confirmation message are sent directly between.These message send by dedicated communication link 28.

In some cases, under the implied terms of electrolyzer Operation at full power, when at least having a sufficient demand to hydrogen, the market value of hydrogen makes it have profit.Such as, on the island of such as Hawaii and Singapore and so on, Sweet natural gas must be inputted by tank, or produces on island, and therefore Gas Prices is general higher.Also there is the market of some hydrogen, wherein, hydrogen can as motor vehicle fuel, heating fuel, as wastewater treatment, synthesizer industrial chemical during upgrading, as the additive added in natural gas used for automobile and the additive as the Sweet natural gas burnt in natural gas power plant.Also hydrogen can be mixed with propane provide the mixed gas with WAUB index similar to Sweet natural gas.In these cases, electrolyzer 12 can by providing grid service as interruptible load or by control for load destruction or applied power production.

Fig. 3 illustrates the various electric components of electrolyzer 12.Electrolyzer 12 has one group of tinkertoy module 80.Each tinkertoy module 80 and then to comprise multiple electrolyzer stacked.Stacked can be that such as alkalescence or polyelectrolyte membrane (polymer electrolyte membrane, PEM) are stacked.Can operate near zero volt because PEM is stacked, thus PEM stacked be preferred, and alkalescence stacked usually can not operate in its maximum power consume effective per-cent (such as less than 50%) below.PEM is stacked also to be had larger power density and is designed to produce the hydrogen of more high pressure.On the other hand, such as sold by Hydrogenics Corp. (Hydrogenics Corporation) some alkalescence is stacked is designed to self-pump type.When providing grid service, this self-pumping feature is very useful, this is because which obviate the needs of the speed changing water pump or flowrate control valve continually.

Via AC-AC step-down transformer 82, electric energy is supplied to electrolyzer 12 from electrical network 14 again through transmission line 18 and 20.Step-down transformer 82 by the loss of voltage in transmission line 18 and 20 to the standard buck (such as 120V or 220V) in control area 16.Total power consumption is followed the tracks of by main electric gauger 84.Alternating-current can be used for the various parts in electrolyzer 12 via main bus 86.

Each tinkertoy module 80 is connected with main bus 86 separately via the direct supply 90 be associated and stacked sub-gauger 88.Direct supply 90 preferably should have wide voltage range, large current capacity and durable variable output mechanism.A kind of suitable power supply is the Thyrobox H2 that AEG Power Solutions manufactures ^tMpower supply.These power supplys have between 1VDC ~ 400VDC and the DC reaching 15,000Amp exports, and have the variable output mechanism based on Thyristor.Thyristor mechanism is solid unit, and movable part can be avoided to wear and tear when the long-term fast power change continued.If need to provide sufficient electric power, so can be each tinkertoy module 80 and multiple power supply is set.

Electrolyzer 12 also has utility appliance (balance of plant) 94, and the various piece of utility appliance 94 will illustrate with further reference to Fig. 4.The power supply of utility appliance 94 provides from main bus 86 via the sub-gauger 92 of utility appliance.

When principal controller 60 operates the grid service for providing such as frequency to adjust, it attempts operation DC power supply 90, makes the electricity that electrolyzer 12 consumption is specified.Electricity can be specified via communication link 28 when considering scheduling or market supply by network operator, or specifies via the direct control of communication link 28 by power grid operation person 26.The electricity required for utility appliance 94 is deducted the electric power that controller 60 can consume from DC power supply 90.This electricity can be estimated as the per-cent of such as always specifying power consumption, or is determined by poll utility appliance gauger 92.The dump energy consumed is assigned with between DC power supply 90.The reading coming from stacked sub-gauger 88 can be used to internal control or feedback loop, to adjust the output of asking from each power supply 90, makes to be matched by the part of the appointment power consumption of the determined actual power consumption of stacked sub-gauger 88 and expection.These internal recycling also can be run in the sub-controller be connected with each direct supply 90 and the stacked sub-gauger 88 that is associated thereof.Alternatively, the reading from main meter 84 can be used to external control or feedback loop to adjust control signal, makes to be matched by the determined total electric energy consumed by electrolyzer 12 of main meter 84 and the amount of specifying.In frequency adjustment, such as power grid operation person 26 can send a series of scheduling, and each scheduling shows the power consumption needed for set period.Controller 60 attempt will dispatch and sequential and actual power loss is flux matched must be close as far as possible or at least in marginal range, such as can Applicative time section at least 90% at least within 10% of the power consumption of specifying.The acceptable tolerance limit of obeying scheduling directly can be specified by power grid operation person 26, or punishes the operation claimed outside tolerance limit and specify.

For multiple tinkertoy module 80 provides the power supply 90 be associated to allow multiple tinkertoy module 80 to be operated with different power consumption simultaneously.Can programme to realize multiple operator scheme to controller 60.According to request or the control of network operator, or as to specifying the promise of grid service or to the future power consumption of prediction or agreement or the programmed response made of price, controller 60 is selected between operator scheme.

Such as, electrolyzer 12 can provide stabilization of power grids service, and such as provide once or secondary frequency adjustment service, wherein, the power consumption of specifying is expected to change within the time period in 5 cycles of 5 or 10 minutes, or changes in an unpredictable manner in longer time section.Such as, when a secondary frequencies adjustment service contract, the power consumption of specifying changes for every 4 seconds, and this is the time between Automatic Generation Control (AGC) signal of some north American power grid 14.When secondary frequency adjustment service contract, the power consumption of specifying just changes for every 5 to 10 minutes.In these cases, controller 60 operates all tinkertoy modules 80 with approximately identical power grade.By this way, total size of fluctuation of power is distributed to the tinkertoy module 80 of maximum quantity, makes the velocity of variation in each tinkertoy module 80 minimum.Any unnecessary tinkertoy module 80 can be closed or be set to standby.Such as, for the electrolyzer 12 of 1MW with five tinkertoy modules 80, the contract of a secondary frequencies adjustment of 0.5MW is provided, need to meet by running three tinkertoy modules 80 with approximately identical power stage.Two residue tinkertoy modules 80 are closed or are set to standby.But, if there is buy power with enough low price thus the chance can made a profit from the hydrogen delivery capacity time, these two residue tinkertoy modules can be activated.

When providing secondary or three secondary frequencies adjustment service, the power consumption of specifying is estimated to change within the time period of 5 to 30 minutes, such as, be adjusted to 5 to 10 minutes for secondary, be adjusted to 15 to 30 minutes for three times.Maximum variable quantity within one period is also measurable.In this case, and when other service appointment power consumption have infrequently or measurable change, controller 60 is determined to produce several tinkertoy modules 80 required for nominal base consumption, and with these tinkertoy modules 80 of Operation at full power, the minimal consumption that between the adjustment period that this nominal base consumption being whole frequency, (can be the part that covers of grid service contract or all time) be expected.Second quantity of the tinkertoy module 80 of the extra consumption expected between the adjustment period that controller also being predicted and is enough to provide frequency, and operate these tinkertoy modules 80 in the mode of variable power consumption.By this way, the impact of concussion in control loop or mistake is reduced.In addition, with steady state operation, generally less to the loss of tinkertoy module 80.Any remaining tinkertoy module 80 is closed or is placed in standby.But, buy power if there is with enough low price, thus during the chance can made a profit from the hydrogen delivery capacity, these two residue tinkertoy modules can be activated.

Such as, the electrolyzer 12 of 1MW can have five tinkertoy modules 80.Can provide the meritorious frequency adjustment of nearly 0.2MW at a tinkertoy module 80 of electrolyzer 12 while, the benchmark consumption of four residue tinkertoy modules 80 is between 0 ~ 0.8MW.When consuming 1MW, all tinkertoy modules 80 are in operation.If 0.6MW is down in the benchmark consumption needed, so, a tinkertoy module 80 can be closed or is placed in standby mode, or for providing the adjustment of meritorious frequency to operate.When providing benchmark to consume, preferably make tinkertoy module 80 as much as possible close or be placed in standby, instead of make benchmark consumption disperse to all tinkertoy modules 80, this is not required for the adjustment of meritorious frequency.But, if electrolyzer 12 needs the frequency providing the 1MW not having benchmark to consume to adjust (namely, the power stage of specifying fluctuating rapidly or in the mode being difficult to predict in advance in respect of 0.8MW), so all tinkertoy modules 80 operate in similar fluctuating power level.Further illustrate with reference to Fig. 4, although power consumption and hydrogen throughput rate are changes, produce hydrogen with constant pressure substantially.

In another operator scheme, electrolyzer 12 is operated to provide hydrogen to produce or energy arbitrage pattern.When the price of electric power makes the production of hydrogen whenever can produce a profit, so all tinkertoy modules 80 are with Operation at full power.When electric power selling at exorbitant prices and when being difficult to earn a profit from the sale of hydrogen, so all tinkertoy modules 80 are closed or are placed in standby mode.Alternatively, can will manufacture the potential profit of hydrogen and provide the profit of grid service to compare.Thering is provided during grid service makes to provide the expected profit of grid service to improve the assessed value of the hydrogen of production.When the value of grid service is higher, distribute enough electrolyzer capacity for providing grid service.Any residue tinkertoy module 80 can run on hydrogen and produce or arbitrage pattern.Alternatively, when more than one tinkertoy module 80 runs on hydrogen production or energy arbitrage pattern, controller 60 is programmed to open or cut out more than one tinkertoy module 80, makes when electric power is in below designated price, and described more than one tinkertoy module 80 opens.

In automatic electrical network service mode, controller 60 can link with line voltage gauger 96 or other grid condition sensor.If line voltage is rising or is being in a high position, controller 60 is increasing power consumption until reach maximum power dissipation, or makes Network Voltage Stability in target zone.On the contrary, if line voltage is declining or is being in low level, controller 60 reduces power consumption until Network Voltage Stability is in target zone.

Fig. 4 illustrates the various elements of the utility appliance 94 of electrolyzer 12.Each tinkertoy module 80 has the thermostatted 90 being arranged in tinkertoy module 80 or oxygen discharge outlet 102.Thermostatted 90 is connected to the flowrate control valve 100 led in the water inlet pipe line 104 of tinkertoy module 80.Another controller regulating flow control valve 100 of stacked temperature regulator 106 or such as principal controller 60 is to maintain the temperature of tinkertoy module in stated limit.Current provide from one group of parallel pump 108.The number ratio of pump 108 provides many one of the quantity needed for design maximum current, is convenient to a pump 108 to remove to keep in repair.Controlled the temperature of single tinkertoy module 80 by use traffic control valve 100, reduce the fluctuation of the travelling speed of pump 108, and make single pumping unit can be used for multiple tinkertoy module 80.Through the current of tinkertoy module 80 also along with tinkertoy module 80 is being closed or conversion between standby and operational mode and automatically close and restart.

The unnecessary water coolant produced has oxygen, and flows to oxygen separator 110 from oxygen discharge outlet 102.Pressure in oxygen separator 110 is maintained the level of substantially constant usually by oxygen setter 112.Water 114 after separation turns back to pump 108 via the cooling apparatus of such as scatterer 116 and fan 118 and so on.Control the speed of fan 118, make the glassware for drinking water arriving pump 108 have the temperature of expectation.When closing flowrate control valve 100 and exerting pressure to pump 108, current that recycling valve 120 aspirates in response to pump 108 and adjusting, to allow water recycle.Although the speed or the quantity that are in the pump 108 of running status also can be lowered, but the speed repeatedly changing pump 108 will cause its rapid deterioration.

Hydrogen generates from row's hydrogen mouth 122 of each tinkertoy module, and advances to hydrogen separator 124.Water 126 after separation flows into subsidiary water tank 128.When needing, subsidiary water tank 128 also receives deionized make up water 130.When the water level decreasing in oxygen separator 110 is to the minimum value of specifying, make up water is pumped into water recycle loop by pump 108.

Pressure in hydrogen separator 124 is determined by hydrogen setter 132.The hydrogen produced is collected in interim torage tank 52.Pressure in interim torage tank 52 is always lower than the pressure in hydrogen separator 124.But, look back Fig. 2, run compressor 54, make the pressure in interim torage tank not be sucked into the specified proportion (such as 80%) of the measuring stress be less than in hydrogen separator 124, thus reduce pressure loss of energy.The oxygen leaving electrolyzer 12 can be passed through pressure recovery turbine or other devices to recover its pressure energy.

Due to the result of long-term pressurized and pressure exists fluctuation, the tightness system in tinkertoy module 80 may loss.When electrolyzer 12 is used to provide grid service, is applied to the power frequent fluctuation of tinkertoy module, and preferably avoids corresponding pressure surge.

By making multiple tinkertoy module 80 be communicated with the gas delivery container 124 and 110 shared, make totally to keep more constant to the pressure of tightness system.Particularly when more than one tinkertoy module 80 is generating hydrogen, pressure-regulator 112 and 132 can provide stable pressure in gas delivery container 124 and 110, allows to flow through tinkertoy module 80 simultaneously.The size of gas delivery container 124 and 110 inhibits the change of the gas produced by a tinkertoy module 80.Therefore, entire system needs less pressure regulating device, and have the device of gas delivery container relative to each tinkertoy module, the action of pressure regulating device reduces.The pressure of obeying between oxygen setter 112 and hydrogen setter 132 maintains almost equal pressure in the film both sides of tinkertoy module 80.

The venting port of tinkertoy module is positioned at tinkertoy module top, and water upwards flows through tinkertoy module.When after tinkertoy module power-off, its residual bubble flows up into gas separator 110 and 124.Water is discharged downwards from gas separator 110 and 124, enters tinkertoy module 80.Water in tinkertoy module prevents the hydrogen that remains and oxygen from reacting, or prevents the material corroding such as catalyzer and so in tinkertoy module, or prevents tinkertoy module to change into fuel cell.Water also maintains the pressure in tinkertoy module, thus reduces pressure surge.By this way, power can be lowered to tinkertoy module, and changes without the need to other in utility appliance.

Gas can be taken out via hydrogen concentration extraction device 134 from pipeline 34 with reference to Fig. 5, consumer 40.Multiple gauger 64 is fetched from pipeline 34 for measuring, turn back to pipeline 34 and be delivered to the gas volume of consumer 40.Segregaion valve 136 selectively allows extraction element 134 to run with batch mode.Compressor 138 allows the gas of depleted of hydrogen to be sent back to pipeline 34.

Consumer 40 can be such as gas fuel station or natural gas power plant.The hydrogen (such as to about 5%) of variable lower concentration can be added in Sweet natural gas, and does not change the operation of the common gas combustion apparatus of such as domestic burners and so on substantially.But the change of engine to its fuel composition is more responsive.Natural gas engines comprises the oil engine in gas turbine for generating electricity and vehicle.But the hydrogen (to about 15%) of proper concn is useful to the operation of natural gas engines, and can reduce the discharge of carbonic acid gas and pollutent.

The Controlling System of natural gas engines can detect the hydrogen concentration of fuel and/or engine in response to the operation of the hydrogen richness of fuel, correspondingly makes a response.Alternatively, in motor vehicle fuel station or natural gas turbines supply system, the Sweet natural gas being rich in the hydrogen of the usual constant density of more than one grade being greater than and existing in pipeline 34 can be provided.

Such as, by the hydrogen concentration measured the Sweet natural gas that extracts from pipeline 34 and the hydrogen adding requirement produces the gas product being rich in 5% or 10% hydrogen with the concentration reaching expectation.Alternatively, not only can precalculate required amount or replace, the amount of required hydrogen can also be determined by monitor hydrogen concentration sensor.In this case, the concentration of the hydrogen the Sweet natural gas measured and extract from pipeline 34 can be omitted.The hydrogen added can be provided by hydrogen pipeline 38, tank car, on-the-spot electrolysis or on-the-spot Natural Gas Conversion (such as recombinated by steam and provide).Electrolyzer 12 also can be positioned at a ground with fuel station or power house, or is connected by hydrogen pipeline 38, to be directly provided for the concentrated hydrogen of Sweet natural gas.

Alternatively, the mixture of hydrogen concentration that is that there is increase or that reduce can be taken out from pipeline 34 via extraction element 134.If take out mixture there is the hydrogen concentration being greater than expectation, can utilize take from pipeline 34 unconcentrated gas by hydrogen dilution to aimed concn.

Extraction element 134 such as can remove hydrogen-rich gas by the hydrogen selective membrane of the film be made up of palladium or palladium-silver alloy and so on.Also can compress only to make one wherein liquefy and divided gas flow to line gas.The absorption agent that rich hydrogen Sweet natural gas also can be extracted in device 134 is regained.Absorption agent can be that metal hydride forms metal, such as, be lanthanum nickel alloy, ferrotianium or carbon nanotube.In this case, extraction element 134 is the casings being filled with absorption agent.By operated valve 136 and compressor 138, line gas is with line pressure through casing, and this makes hydrogen be captured as metal hydride.Then, casing and pipeline 34 are completely cut off, and is transported to consumer 40.When the pressure in extraction element 134 reduces, the hydrogen of absorption is also released to generate rich hydrogen Sweet natural gas.

Settling accounts to separate with Sweet natural gas, the amount of the hydrogen removed by fuel station or power station can be monitored.Hydrogen or rich hydrogen Sweet natural gas can have different prices, carbon credit volume (carbon credit) or renewable energy source rights and interests.This rights and interests can be transferred to user by fuel station, or provide the selection buying low emission or part recyclable fuel to user.

In the energy system 10 with multiple electrolyzer 12, the operation of plural electrolyzer 12 can be controlled together as a group.Such as, if electrical network 114 needs to consume excessive electric power, groupwise controller can make that the amount of hydrogen that be subject to small electric power transmission restriction, that be subject to less be injected into pipeline limits or for applying to the hydrogen of market supply higher-value electrolyzer 12 run.

Alternatively, hydrogen can be used or is injected in pipeline indirectly.Particularly, hydrogen can be utilized to manufacture methane.Then methane can be injected into gas tube or be fed to motor vehicle fuel station or power house.By Sabatier process, hydrogen can be transformed into methane.Comprise hydrogen, Sabatier process needs carbonic acid gas as raw material.Carbonic acid gas can extract from the waste gas of engine or boiler, from biogas or in other carbon sequestration (carbon sequestration) process.Alternatively, by being joined in anaerobic digester by hydrogen, hydrogen is transformed into methane, described digester is such as the digester for manufacturing methane from biomass (biomass).In digester, hydrogen is combined to produce methane with carbonic acid gas, and the methane increasing digester exports.Alternatively, hydrogen can be combined with the carbonic acid gas that the biogas produced from anaerobic digester is separated outside digester.

Hydrogen is converted into about 20% of the potential energy of methane consumption hydrogen.But the part in these losses can be resumed as used heat.In addition, can be injected into quantity-unlimiting for methane in natural gas line.The energy density of methane is about three times of hydrogen, and methane is the main fuel of current compressed natural gas automobile.Therefore, in some cases, being converted to methane is expect.Particularly, if the cost producing hydrogen is provided grid service at least in part and covers, if the consumption of the carbonic acid gas in methanation process provides the benefit of such as carbon credit volume and so on, if hydrogen or for the production of hydrogen electric power otherwise will be wasted, so producing methane can become the feasible application of hydrogen.

Claims (37)

1. a method, it comprises the following steps:

A) electrolyzer is provided;

B) receive a series of scheduling, described a series of scheduling shows the power consumption of specifying in for some time, and described scheduling at least occurs once for every 30 minutes;

C) electrolyzer according to described scheduling operation; And,

D) by step c) period the hydrogen that produces be discharged in natural gas system.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein, described scheduling at least occurs once for every 10 minutes.

3. method according to claim 1 and 2, wherein, step c) comprising: in the marginal range of specifying, operate described electrolyzer according to dispatch command.

4. the method any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, steps d) comprising: before described hydrogen is injected into natural gas line, convert described hydrogen to methane.

5. the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein, described electrolyzer has controller and electric gauger, and wherein, described controller is suitable for operation direct supply with predetermined speed power consumption.

6. the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein, in step c) in, described electrolyzer is operated according to the part in following set according to described scheduling, described set is i) multiple electrolyzer, or ii) at least one electrolyzer and at least one other variable load.

7. the method according to any one of claim 1 ~ 6, it also comprises the following steps:

A) in first location, described hydrogen is injected in described natural gas system;

B) amount being injected into the described hydrogen in described natural gas system in described first location is measured;

C) amount of the Sweet natural gas that user fetches from described natural gas system in the second position is measured; And,

D) subscriber's account is generated, the amount that described subscriber's account indicates or consumes based on the hydrogen suitable at least partially of the amount with the described Sweet natural gas fetched.

8. the method according to any one of claim 1 ~ 7, wherein, described electrolyzer has multiple tinkertoy module, and each described tinkertoy module has independently power supply and the controller for operating described multiple tinkertoy module with different rate of power consumption simultaneously.

9. the method according to any one of claim 1 ~ 8, it also comprises the following steps:

A) described electrolyzer is divided into discrete tinkertoy module in groups;

B) operate the first component according to described dispatch command and found tinkertoy module; And,

C) close second component and found tinkertoy module, described second component is found tinkertoy module and is placed in standby mode, or only operate described second component when electricity price is below designated value and found assembly to produce described hydrogen.

10. method according to claim 9, it also comprises the following steps:

A) quiescent dissipation in one period needed for grid service is estimated;

B) operate described first component and found the subgroup of tinkertoy module to provide described quiescent dissipation; And,

C) operate all the other subgroups that described first component founds tinkertoy module, thus the power consumption of change is provided.

11. methods according to any one of claim 1 ~ 10, wherein, from a certain amount of hydrogen of electrical production, described electric power comprises the actual electric power originating from or be considered as to have originated from renewable energy source, and is labeled as by described a certain amount of hydrogen and originates from renewable energy source.

12. methods according to any one of claim 1 ~ 11, it also comprises the following steps:

A) data relevant with the maximum hydrogen that can be injected into gas tube are received; And,

B) at least one item in following steps is completed, these steps are: i) control described electrolyzer, make it consume and be no more than the electricity producing described maximum hydrogen, (ii) excessive hydrogen is discharged, and (iii) send signal to power grid operation person, described signal shows can by the corresponding maximum hydrogen produced.

13. methods according to claim 12, wherein, described data comprise the flow rate of the Sweet natural gas in described pipeline.

14. methods according to any one of claim 1 ~ 13, described electrolyzer has the multiple tinkertoy modules upwards leading to the gas separator shared.

15. methods according to any one of claim 1 ~ 14, it comprises the following steps:

A) Sweet natural gas is fetched from described natural gas system;

B) concentration of hydrogen from the described Sweet natural gas that described natural gas system is fetched is measured; And,

C) produce the gaseous mixture having and specify hydrogen concentration as follows, described step is: i) added in described Sweet natural gas by hydrogen, or ii) hydrogen-rich mixture of described Sweet natural gas with the hydrogen fetched from pipeline and Sweet natural gas is mixed mutually.

16. 1 kinds of methods of commercially carrying out the invented sale of hydrogen, it comprises the following steps:

A) by electrolyzer power consumption to produce hydrogen;

B) described hydrogen is injected in natural gas system;

C) amount being injected into the described hydrogen of described natural gas system is measured;

D) amount of the Sweet natural gas that user fetches from described natural gas system is measured; And,

E) amount for hydrogen consumption opens bill to described user, and the amount of described hydrogen consumption is at least equivalent to a part for the amount of the described Sweet natural gas fetched.

17. methods according to claim 16, wherein, described electric power comprises the actual electric power originating from or be considered as to have originated from renewable energy source.

18. 1 kinds of electrolyzers with controller and electric gauger, wherein, described controller is for operating direct supply with predetermined speed power consumption.

19. electrolyzers according to claim 18, described electrolyzer has multiple tinkertoy module, and each described tinkertoy module all has independently power supply.

20. electrolyzers according to claim 19, it has the controller for operating described multiple tinkertoy module with different rate of power consumption simultaneously.

21. 1 kinds of energy systems, it comprises:

A) electrical network;

B) electrolyzer; And,

C) natural gas system,

Wherein, described electrolyzer is operated to provide grid service and is discharged in described natural gas system by hydrogen.

22. 1 kinds of methods, it comprises the following steps:

A) electrolyzer is provided:

B) according to the dispatch command from power grid operation person, or described electrolyzer is operated according to grid service or electric power purchase contract;

C) by step b) period produce hydrogen be discharged in natural gas line.

23. 1 kinds of methods storing the excessive amount of electrical energy in electrical network, it comprises and converts described excessive amount of electrical energy to hydrogen and described hydrogen be injected into the step in natural gas system.

24. 1 kinds of methods of carrying out the virtual transmission of electric power, it comprises the following steps:

A) the electrolyzer power consumption of the first position operation in electrical network is passed through to produce hydrogen;

B) in first location, described hydrogen is injected in natural gas system;

C) from described natural gas system, Sweet natural gas is taken out in the second position;

D) described Sweet natural gas is burnt to produce electric power; And,

E) the described electric power produced is fed to the second position in described electrical network.

25. 1 kinds of electrolyzers, described electrolyzer has multiple tinkertoy module, and each described tinkertoy module has independently power supply.

26. electrolyzers according to claim 25, described electrolyzer has the controller for operating multiple described tinkertoy module with different rate of power consumption simultaneously.

27. 1 kinds of electrolyzers, described electrolyzer has the multiple tinkertoy modules upwards leading to the gas separator shared.

28. 1 kinds of methods operating electrical network, described method comprises the following steps:

Input uneven energy, and consume described uneven energy by the electrolyzer be connected with natural gas system.

29. 1 kinds of methods operating electrical network, said method comprising the steps of:

Operate generator to produce the electric power of the amount exceeded needed for operation electrical network, and consumes excessive described electric power in the electrolyzer be connected with natural gas system.

30. methods according to claim 29, it comprises the following steps:

The marginal cost of relatively a) more excessive described electric power deducts the difference of any cost not producing excessive described electric power and the marketable value of b) hydrogen.

31. 1 kinds of methods, it comprises the following steps:

A) during the first period, carry out power consumption to produce hydrogen by electrolyzer, and described hydrogen is injected in natural gas system; And,

B) during the second period, gas-firing is to produce electric power.

32. 1 kinds of natural gas systems, described natural gas system has the user's gasometer comprising hydrogen concentration sensor.

33. systems according to claim 32, wherein, the data relevant with flow and hydrogen concentration are converted into the equivalent flow rate of Sweet natural gas.

34. 1 kinds of methods operating gas fuel station or natural gas power plant, described method comprises the following steps:

A) concentration from the hydrogen the Sweet natural gas that pipeline is fetched is measured; And,

B) hydrogen is added to produce the gaseous mixture with the hydrogen concentration of specifying.

35. 1 kinds of methods operating gas fuel station or natural gas power plant, described method comprises the following steps:

A) mixture of hydrogen and the Sweet natural gas fetched from pipeline is concentrated; And,

B) Sweet natural gas is added to produce the gaseous mixture with the hydrogen concentration of specifying.

36. 1 kinds of methods operating electrolyzer, described method comprises the following steps:

A) data relevant with the maximum hydrogen that can be injected in gas tube are received; And,

B) control described electrolyzer, make it consume and be no more than the electricity will producing described maximum hydrogen, discharge excessive hydrogen, or send to power grid operation person that show can by the signal of corresponding maximum hydrogen produced.

37. methods according to claim 36, wherein, described data comprise the flow rate of the Sweet natural gas in described pipeline.